Flight attachment for chain conveyers



Oct. 16, 1951 v. E. KEENEY FLIGHT ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIN CONVEYERS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 8, 1950 5 INVENTOR VEKZe n 99 ATTORNEYS Oct. 16, 1951 v. E. KEENEY FLIGHT ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIN CONVEYERS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 8, 1950 ATTORNE Patented Oct. 16, 1951 FLIGHT ATTACHMENT FOR CHAIN CONVEYERS Vaderon E. Keeney, Marcela, Oreg.

Application May 8, 1950, Serial No. 160,804

This invention relates to chain conveyors.

An object of this invention is to provide in a chain conveyor embodying the use of a single chain, an improved bucket or flight attachment means for interposing between the links of the an improved flight attachment which will automatically maintain the flight at right angles to the length of the chain.

A further object of this invention is to pro- 3 vide a chain conveyor structure wherein only a single chain is required with flights or buckets secured to the chain at spaced intervals.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bucket or flight attachment that,

is trouble-free, simple in design. and ruggedly built to withstand the most evere operating conditions.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved bucket or flight attachment designed so as to be readily installed in H type conveyor or transmission chains and to be readily adapted to such chains employing either offset side bars or straight side bars where the links are connected by means of a rivetor pin.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view partly broken away and in section of a bucket or flight attachment constructed according to an embodiment of this invention interposed in a conveyor chain.

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation partly in section of the attachment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the securing rivets.

Figure 6 is a detailed plan view of a modified form of flight construction.

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-1 of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings and, first, to Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral l0 designates generally a chain conveyor formed of pivotally con- 3 Claims. (Cl. 198-170) Another object of this invention is to provide nected links H. In order to provide a conveyor structure wherein a single endless chain is used, I have provided a bucket or a cleat attachment which is adapted to be interposed in the conveyor chain at spaced intervals. The attachment comprises a pair of side link members l2 which are pivotally mounted at one end thereof on a pivot member [3 engaging through the links I I, and a spacer sleeve l4 engages about the pivot member l3 and between the adjacent ends of the side members l2.

A second pair of side members l5 are pivotally secured at one end thereof on a pivot member l6 engaging between the side members l2, and a spacer sleeve ll engages between the side members l5 and about the pivot member [6. The side members l5 are each formed with an upstanding ear l8 and a plate [9 is fixed between the ears l8. A lower plate 20 is also fixed between the ears [8 and is formed with an eye 2i at its rear or trailing end.

A top plate 22 is fixed between the upper ends of the ears [8 and is fixed to the forward plate IS. The upper plate 22 is formed with an eye 23 aligning with the eye 2|, and an eye 24 is disposed between the two eyes 2| and 23 and pivotally secured thereto by means of a bolt 25. A right angularly disposed tubular flight 26 is fixed by means of a shank 21 to the eye 24 and engages over the upper edges of the side members l5. In the present instance the flight 26 'is formed by welding together a pair of angle bars so as to thereby produce a hollow or tubular flight. In order to provide a means whereby the flight 26 will be normally held at right angles to the length of the chain, I have provided a lever 28 which is formed integral with each of the side members It: and projects upwardly and rearwardly at an obtuse angle to the length of the side member l5 so that the rear end of the lever 28 will bear against the forward side of the flight 26 at a point laterally of the transverse median of the flight 2E. The rear end of each lever or arm 28 is rounded off as indicated at 29 so as to provide a cam surface for engagement by the forward side of the flight 26 when the latter swings at an oblique angle as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1 at the time one portion of the flight 26 comes into contact with a fixed or relatively heavy obstruction 0.

Referring now to Figures 6 and '7, there is disclosed a modified form of flight structure embodying a wooden flight member 30 which is secured to an angle bar 3| by right angularly disposed fastening members 32 and 33, and the angle member 3| has extending from one side 34 thereof a shank 35. An eye 36 is carried by the shank 35 and is adapted to engage about a bolt 25 as shown in Figure 3. The side 34 of the angle member 3! is of suflicient length to engage the lever members 28 in the same manner as the forward side of the flight or bucket member 26 engages the lever members 28.

In the use and operation of this attachment the links formed by the side member I2 and i5 are interposed betwen links H of the chain structure, and the flight 26 engages on the upper sides of the links or side members I5. Normally the side members l2 and 15 will be disposed in the same plane which may be either a horizontal plane or a plane inclined to the vertical. Normally the pull on the upper run of the conveyor structure will be such that the two lever members 28 will hold the flight or bucket 26 at right angles to the length of the conveyor chain in order that the material will be moved over the conveyor trough.

In the event an obstruction or unduly heavy article 0 is encountered by a flight 26, the flight may swing rearwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure l, and at this time the side members I 2 will swing downwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. It will be understood that in every conveyor structure the lower run of the conveyor chain has substantial slack so that while the upper run is normally relatively taut when undue strain is applied to the upper run as by an obstruction which is engaged by one of the flights 26 the lower run may tighten up to a degree caused by the rocking of the side members 12.

When the obstruction has been passed by the pivoted flight 26 the pulling force on the upper run of the chain will cause the lever 28 which is engaged at this time by the pivoted flight or bucket 26 to effect rearward swinging of the bucket or flight to its normal position where the forward side of the bucket or flight is engaged by both of the levers 28. In this manner the bucket or flight '26 will 'be automatically re turned to its normal right angularly disposed operative position after the obstruction has been passed by the adjacent bucket or flight.

What is claimed is:

1. A flight and attaching means therefor for interposing in a conveyor chain comprising a flight member, a pair of side link members for pivotal attachment at one end thereof to the chain, a pair of spaced bearing eyes fixed to said link members, a bearing eye fixed to said flight member and engaging between said pair of eyes, a second pair of side link members pivotally secured to the other ends of said first pair of side link members, and an obtusely angled lever carried by each of said second pair of side link members and projecting upwardly and rearwardly for contact with the forward side of said flight member.

2. A flight and attaching means therefor for interposing in aconveyor chain comprising a flight member, a pair of side link members for pivotal attachment at one end thereof to the chain, a pair of spaced bearing eyes fixed to said link members, a bearing eye fixed to said flight member and engaging between said pair of eyes, a second pair of side link members pivotally secured to the other ends of said first pair of side link members, and a lever carried by each of said second pair of side link members and projecting upwardly and rearwardly for contact with the forward side of said flight member.

3. A flight and attaching means therefor for interposing in a conveyor chain comprising a flight member, a pair of side link member for pivotal attachment at one end thereof to the chain, a pair of spaced bearing eyes fixed to said link members, a bearing eye fixed to said flight member and engaging between said pair of eyes, a second pair of side link members pivotally secured to the other ends of said first pair of side link members, and an obtusely angled lever carried by each of said second pair of side link members and projecting upwardly and rearwardly for contact with the forward side of said flight member, said obtusely angled levers each forming a cam surface against which said flight may ride.

VADERON E. KEENE'Y.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 858,312 Thoenen June 25, 1907 2,391,700 Hapman Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 685,079 Germany Dec. 11, 1939 

